There is no relationship between the type of current delivered to the patient and the type of current used to drive the electrical generator. (Prentice, 2005, p. 86).

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Image public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Electrical Circuits

image public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Stimulators are set in series or parallel circuits; parallel circuits have less resistance and higher current flow; series; decrease in voltage at each component, so serial currents have higher resistance and lower current flow.

Electrical modalities act in both parallel and series currents due to the tissue resistance offered by the body.

Components of Generators of Electrical Currents--AKA How do I turn AC to DC current?

Transformers—steps down or reduces the amount of voltage from the power supply

Rectifier—converts AC current to pulsating DC current

Filter—changes pulsating DC to smooth DC

Regulator—produces a specific controlled voltage output

Output amplifier—magnifies or increases the ammplitude of the voltage output and controls it at a specific level, adjusting for impedance

Oscillator—produces a specific waveform

Components of generators and biological tissuses act in several ways:

As insulators: materials and tissues which deter the passage of energy

As semiconductors: both insulators and conductors. These materials will conduct better in one direction than the other

Control rate of flow: How fast the energy travels. This depends on two factors: the voltage (the driving force) and the resistance.